Hunter of the Evernight
Chapter 410: I am...

Chapter 410: I am...

The paintings came alive after Enoch’s statement, each one brimming with unbridled malevolence as they leaped out of the tapestry that once constituted the whole of their existence before proceeding to approach Alex and Elena.

Before the duo could wrap their heads around the sight, it got even more bizarre as the sculptures and other artworks began to come alive, each one glaring hatefully at them for what they considered a blatant lie.

"Liar!... How dare you try to claim to know me?"

"I do not wish to die, you usurper!... You will never be me. You can’t be me!... You are just a cheap copy!"

"You must die, you must die!"

The artworks radiated intense killing intent as they approached, quickly encircling Alex and Elena to prevent them from escaping.

Meanwhile, at the side, Enoch leaped around like a child, giggling unrestrainedly as he sang.

"Liar, liar, you all are liars, liar, liar, you all are liars!"

Pausing for a moment, he glanced at the duo and on seeing them so tense, giggled some more.

"Blame yourselves for lying. Liars are bad people and do you know where all bad people go?"

No response came from Alex or Elena though none was necessary as Enoch replied to his question a moment later in an excited tone.

"They go to Hell!"

A casual exclamation from him seemed to hold authority needed to stir the powers that be as a red portal brimming with negativity and the screams of depraved souls emerged underneath their feet.

"Alex, we have to leave!" Elena exclaimed as she grabbed his wrist and tried to activate her Power.

Alas, nothing happened and immediately, the malevolent artworks jumped on her and Alex, proceeding to drag them into the hellish portal.

Elena struggled, the desire to survive ensuring she didn’t quit but despite her best efforts all she managed to do was go deeper into the portal.

As she began to lose hope, Alex calmly intoned. "You can’t kill us."

And like a lie, everything stopped.

Partially submerged in the hellish portal, Alex met Enoch’s gaze with the latter blinking several times before inquiring innocently.

"Why?"

"Have you forgotten?... You made a promise to Adam."

Enoch pouted. "But I really do want to kill you... for lying."

"... Then you’d have to come up with a way to kill me that would appear as an accident if Adam came asking questions."

Silence reigned for a moment before a literal gas lamp appeared above Enoch’s head, a less surreal sight compared to everything that had occurred so far.

"I have a brilliant idea," Enoch remarked excitedly while clapping.

Maintaining an impassive facade, Alex muttered. "Pray tell."

"Let’s play a game!... We can put it as part of the rules that if you lose, you die or something like that so when Adam asks questions, I’d say you died as we were playing a game so it’s not my fault."

"That sounds brilliant," Alex confessed. "So, what game do you have in mind?"

Enoch grinned. "A brilliant game I made myself."

"What’s it called?"

"I AM."

It was a short phrase but it contained boundless power as the entire scenery changed, transforming from an art gallery to a great coliseum.

Enoch stood on one end as the champion and Alex as well as Elena appeared on the other as challengers.

Taking a moment to scrutinize their current location, both stood at attention as Enoch began to explain the rules of the game.

"The game is very simple. We each get five turns and in those five turns, we imagine ourselves as anything, from the smallest insect to the larger dimensions. The goal is to survive the potential dangers your opponent’s transformation might hold towards you."

"Are there any rules?" Alex inquired.

Enoch grinned mischievously as he nodded while putting up his hand with his fingers up. "Rule number 1, what you imagine once cannot be imagined again."

Putting one finger down, he continued. "Number 2, you cannot start big from the beginning and whatever you imagine has to be a natural phenomenon, nothing of a mystical nature."

Another finger went down. "Number 3, if you don’t understand what you imagine, you will die. Also, when you wish to imagine, you must start with the phrase, I am."

"Number 4, the effects of your opponent’s imagination can affect you and vice versa."

"Finally," Enoch remarked excitedly as he dropped the last finger. "You can’t quit or give up. Also, you only have 5 seconds to imagine. Understood?"

"I have a question," Alex remarked.

Enoch pouted. "What is it?... I thought I was quite clear."

"Do we each get five tries each or do we have to share them?" Alex inquired while gesturing to Elena.

Enoch stuck a tongue out. "Cheater!... Why would you both have different tries? That’s just wrong."

"I see. In that case, we are to share it."

"Of course. The first person to speak shall also be the last, that is all I will say." Enoch remarked while giggling.

"Can we discuss strategy?"

"Nope."

"Can we get some time to prepare?"

"Oh gosh, you ask so many questions!" Enoch intoned in exasperation. "Just get started so I can kill you already."

Despite the childish manner in which it was said, it did nothing to reduce the reality of the fact that Enoch wished to end Alex’s life.

With death awaiting him should he fail, Alex took a step forward and remarked.

***

Taken aback by the sudden attack, Ana prepared to move as the nameless old man reached for her neck only for Nadia to chant a spell.

Verto

The next moment, she was gone, standing beside Nadia while Arwen took her place where she once stood.

Arwen, her body alight with pale flames, grabbed the man’s hand and allowed her fire to burn without restraint, engulfing his right arm instantaneously.

The man didn’t hesitate as he pulled away, foregoing the entire limb as he took steps back before transforming into a towering Gryphon after which a miniature version of the Lightbringer appeared above their battleground, expelling a blinding light that caught the trio off guard momentarily.

Soon after, the entire area was bathed in golden flames.

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